Mary Catherine Cote Cooper

Mary Catherine Cote Cooper ended her incredible life's journey with her passing on October 27, 2018. The oldest of nine children of the late Leo and Florence Starks Cote she was born December 8, 1924. A graduate of Millcreek High School her learning continued throughout her life gaining extensive knowledge of birds of North America, astronomy, nature and flowers, and leadership training for the youth.

She loved her life in Findley Lake, NY, where she and her late husband, Art Cooper, started the Findley Lake Water Ski Club and spent almost 60 years cruising around the lake in their Chris Crafts. She will be remembered for her tireless volunteerism, serving on numerous Boards of Director and member of organizations including the Findley Lake Mina Historical Society, town Historian, Chautauqua Area Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Clymer PTA, Rosary Alter Society at St. Matthias Church, where she arranged the alter flowers each week for 20 years, Findley Lake Fireman Auxiliary, Findley Lake Education and Wildlife Center, Young at Heart, Findley Lake Property Owners, Clymer American Field Service, Sherman Minerva Club, Jamestown Prendergast Library, 28 years on the Election Board, and started the Findley Lake lighting of the flares each fourth of July.

Girl Scouts was her passion devoting over 60 years she served as Leader, Service Team Leader, Trainer of the Chautauqua County Youth Bureau, Alumni Association; took two Wyoming Treks, and numerous Mystic Seaport Connecticut and Macy training trips. Girl Scouts recognized her with the Thanks Badge II, Outstanding Leader, and Outstanding Volunteer awards, Appreciation pin, Daisy Award, and Green Angel Award. She was honored with the Women of the Year by the Southwestern Chautauqua County Business Professional Women, the Chautauqua County Citizen of the Year both non-senior and senior awards, Jamestown United Way Volunteer of the Year award, the Jamestown Kiwanis Dr. Frank Smeragliuolo Memorial Award and received the Mason's General Douglas MacArthur Youth Award for service to the youth of New York State.

In her spare time she enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners for her family, golfing, bowling, baking pies, swimming, bird watching, writing letters, and skinny-dipping in Findley Lake.

Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Arthur L. Cooper, Jr.; one sister, Laura Jean Connaroe Karle; four brothers, Paul, Ron, Philip, and Pat Cote; and two nephews, Michael Cote and David Connaroe.

Survived by her children, Dianne (Dennis) Johnson, Carol (John) Eller, Jack (Marlene) Cooper and Jim (Chris) Cooper; six grandchildren, Jenny (Shawn) Mitkowski, Amy (Mike) Yurchak, Christopher (Bobbie) Cooper, Elizabeth Cooper, Carolin Cooper and Katie (Kevin) Delaney; and seven great-grandchildren, Kyrsten, Courtney, Morgan, Casey, Riley, Mira and Brynn; siblings, Rita (Don) Burick, Janet Bokshan, Bernard (Dottie) Cote, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a very sincere appreciation and thank you to all the staff of Ball Pavilion for the friendship and care extended our Mom and family over the years.

Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Saturday, November 3, from 2 to 4 pm and 5:30 pm until the time of the Funeral Service there at 7:30 pm. Memorials can be made to the Findley Lake Girl Scouts, c/o Findley Lake Community Foundation, Findley Lake, NY 14736 or Ball Pavilion at Brevillier Village, 5416 East Lake Road, Erie, PA 16511.